While the Greater Boston area has not yet faced any reported violent incidents, the increased frequency of vicious anti-Asian crimes in cities and towns across the United States has left Asian residents around Chinatown Boston in a state of unease. For some, this growing threat unfortunately extends what has already been a long year of isolation and hardship, following on the heels of an already trying pandemic.
“They have been staying at home over a year, and they don’t often go out…we are opening the Senior Center, but they don’t want to go out. They are aware of what’s going on, and of course, it is a concern. So they stay home,” says Ruth Moy, Executive Director of the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center. The Golden Age Center provides services to elderly Asian residents around the Boston area.
While concerns about anti-Asian hate have limited social outings, for some seniors, it has impacted their willingness to seek out essential services. “We completely understand how recent incidents of violence against the Asian community, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to apprehension in our Chinatown patients to come to the hospital for needed appointments and regular check-ups,” said Michael Tarnoff, MD, Interim President and CEO of Tufts Medical Center. “We are grateful to the AACA for launching this simple, yet innovative program to help our valued patients and friends in the community ensure that they can attend appointments safely, while building new relationships.”
To help senior and other at-risk Asian residents around Chinatown to mitigate fear caused by anti-Asian racism, the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) is bringing together organizations and individuals across Chinatown to launch a new community service program – AACA’s Bayara program, Buddy Guards for Chinatown. Volunteers from the program accompany seniors from their homes to the store, to medical appointments, or other stops around Chinatown, giving seniors the comfort of having strength in numbers.
“AACA is committed to supporting our community. There are many organizations that have stepped up to help Asians around Greater Boston during these difficult times. The reality though is an individual by themselves, even with tools or training, is still very vulnerable. There is the old Chinese proverb – You cannot clap with just one hand. (孤掌難鳴) We need to come together as a community,” said Edward Hsieh, Chief Operating Officer of AACA.
AACA has volunteer support from the Eastern Kung Fu Federation of New England, a historical association founded in 1977 by local schools like Gin Soon Tai Chi Chuan Federation and Wah Lum Kung Fu Athletic Association, and from student clubs at Boston University and Boston College. AACA will also be granting work release time to its own employees to encourage them to give back directly to the community.
“I believe this volunteer program is a great opportunity for organizations to get together and give back to the community. We need to come together in support for our elders. I’m really looking forward to seeing more martial arts schools and Chinatown organizations come together to show solidarity and promote safety and well-being together,” says Sifu Jing Woo on behalf of the Eastern Kung Fu Federation.
An AACA coordinator will schedule volunteers into time slots. Residents of the Golden Age Center and patients from the South Cove Community Health Center will contact the AACA coordinator to make reservations for volunteers to meet with the resident or patient. Other apprehensive residents around Chinatown will be able to access the program by calling in to the coordinator or by filling out an appointment form on the AACA website.
“By matching seniors with volunteers, the seniors can feel safer taking a walk outside in Chinatown, whether that’s down to a grocery or over to Tufts for a vital medical appointment. Even more than the feeling of strength in numbers though, it is important that after this rough year, after this hiatus of banquets and shared activities, to bring people together in Chinatown,” said Mary Chin, Chief Executive Officer at AACA.
